Empire

“Empire” is a hit FOX musical drama series that premiered in 2015. The groundbreaking show revolves around the Lyon family and their record company, Empire Entertainment.

Terrence Howard stars as Lucious Lyon, a rapper whose iconic music career led him to become a full-fledged mogul by founding Empire Entertainment. At the start of the series, he finds out he is terminally ill, and wants to choose one of his three sons to be his successor. There’s Andre, the college-educated and business-minded eldest son, played by Trai Byers. Next is Jamal, the musically-talented middle child who comes out as gay, portrayed by Jussie Smollett. And then the youngest is Hakeem, an aspiring rap star, played by Bryshere Y. Gray, also known as Yazz The Greatest.

Complicating matters is the boys’ mother and Lyon’s ex-wife, Cookie, who is played by Taraji P. Henson. In prison for 20 years after taking the fall for Lucious’ drug-dealing operation, she is released as the series begins and wants what she believes is her rightful piece of the Lyon family empire. Henson has received universal acclaim for the role, which garnered her a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series, along with an Emmy nomination.

“Empire” has been widely praised for its use of music, with the series spawning a number one Billboard album. The show has also attracted big-name guest stars, including Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Judd Nelson, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Naomi Campbell, Marisa Tomei, Ludacris, Chris Rock, and more.

The first season led “Empire” to become the most-watched broadcast series currently on television. The second season premiered in September, and continues to dominate in the ratings.